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ASHEVILLE, N.C. – United States Attorney Jill Westmoreland Rose announced that eight individuals are facing multiple federal drug charges for their involvement in a drug conspiracy operating in Rutherford and Cleveland Counties. A criminal indictment was returned on April 21, 2016, and was unsealed today in federal court. Law enforcement arrested yesterday six of the eight charged during an early morning round-up. One defendant was previously in custody and one has not been arrested yet.

C.J. Hyman, Special Agent in Charge of the U.S. Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives (ATF), Charlotte Field Division; Sheriff Chris Francis of the Rutherford County Sheriff’s Office and Sheriff Alan Norman of the Cleveland County Sheriff’s Office join U.S. Attorney Rose in making today’s announcement.

According to allegations contained in the criminal indictment, from on or about May 2015 to about January 2016, the defendants operated as a drug conspiracy responsible for trafficking cocaine and crack cocaine in and around Rutherford and Cleveland Counties. Over the course of the investigation law enforcement have seized narcotics and three firearms.

The eight defendants named in the 22-count indictment are each charged with conspiracy to distribute cocaine and crack cocaine and related drug offenses. They are:

Kevin McArthur Bailey, 37, of Shelby, N.C. (previously in custody)

James Rollins Glover, Jr., 30, of Spindale, N.C. (arrested)

Anthony Price Laney, 34, of Forest City, N.C. (arrested)

Lonnie McDowell, 65, of Shelby, N.C. (arrested)

Craig Vinshun Mosley, 32, of Forest City, N.C. (not arrested yet)

Justin Latrey Mosley, 26, of Forest City, N.C. (arrested)

Vincent G. Mosley, 55, of Forest City, N.C. (arrested)

Heather Michelle Shehan, 28, of Rutherfordton, N.C. (arrested)

(See chart below for federal charges and penalties for each defendant).

In making today’s announcement, U.S. Attorney Rose said, “The arrests in this case are part of my office’s ongoing effort to combat drug trafficking throughout our district.I want to thank all the law enforcement agencies that participated in this investigation for joining forces in our fight against drug distribution and the violence that comes with drug trafficking.”

“The Rutherford County Sheriff’s Office is committed to reducing drug availability and the negative side effects that come along with illegal narcotics distribution. We believe working with our local, state, and federal partners to build and take strong cases to the US Attorney's Office for prosecution is an extremely effective strategy. Without our strong working relationship with the ATF, the results of this investigation and its long lasting positive impacts on our communities would not be possible. I am grateful for these valuable partnerships,” said Rutherford County Sheriff Francis.

The defendants will appear in federal court today in Asheville before a U.S. Magistrate Judge. The charges contained in the indictment are allegations. The defendants are presumed innocent unless and until proven guilty beyond a reasonable doubt in a court of law.

Assistant U.S. Attorney John Pritchard of the U.S. Attorney’s Office in Asheville is handling the prosecution.